Baler conveying and feeding means



Nov. 10, 1953 s. D. RUSSELL EAL-ER CONVEYING AND FEEDING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed April 19, 1941 m: E t:

INVENTOR EM BY ATTORNEY.

N V- 1953 .s. D. RUSSELL BALER CONVEYING AND FEEDING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 19, 1941 INVENTOR AT TOKNEY.

Nov. 10, 1953 s. D. RUSSELL BALER CONVEYING AND FEEDING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed April 19, 1941 INVENTOR BY M ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,658,323 BALER CONVEYING AND FEEDING MEANS StanleyD. Russell, Racine, Wis., assignor to J. I.

Case Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation Original application April 19, 1941, Serial No.

389,396, now Patent No. 2,362,861, dated November 14, 1944. Divided and this application November 11, 1944, Serial No. 563,038

apparatus for feeding a baler.

Further objects will become apparent from the following description'and accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view with parts removed and others broken away of an illustrative machine embodying the invention. v

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modified arrangement of driving mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a view of a portion of Fig. 2 showing a modified arrangement of driving mechanism corresponding with that shown in Fig. 4.

Similar reference characters have been applied to the same parts throughout these drawings and the specification.

The present illustrative machine is similar to that disclosed inthe co-pending application of Stanley D. Russell, Serial No. 389,396, filed April 19, 1941, and patented November 14, 1944, No. 2,362,861, of which this application is a division.

As seen in Fig. 1, the illustrative machine includes a baler generally designated as B, a pickup generally designated as P, feeding means F and bale dividing means D, the mechanism being driven, if desired, by an engine E. Pickup P operates to elevate material from the ground onto a rubber or other smooth, friction surfaced apron In which conveys the material toward baler B and beneath a rotating drum, roller or feeder l l. Apron l0 and feederl I urge the material into the baling chamber through an opening in the side thereof. The dividing means D operate periodically to provide a pathway for a wire or other binding-means and without interruption of the feeding by apron I0 and drum H.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the mainbody of the 6 Claims. (Cl. 56341) fixed therewith and engaging an axle or brace 2| extending transversely beneath bale chamber B and feeder F. Axle 21 has a downwardly extending bracket 22 carried by a stub axle 23- which is in turn supported by a ground engaging wheel 24. Axle 2| adjacent its other end has a bracket 25 carried by a stub axle 26 which is in turn supported by a ground engaging wheel 21. A bracket or attaching means 28 which may be somewhat similar to above mentioned bracket 20 extends gages axle 2| in the vicinity of bracket 22 and supports 2 bars 3|] and 3| constituting a frame structure for feeding platform or mechanism F, 2 bars 30 and 3! extending substantially between brackets 28 and Zilto be supported thereon.

Returning to baling chamber B, angle irons i3, I4, I! and I8 extend the full length of the baling chamber and beyond to form the major portion of the machine, in the present instance being united by a frame, bulkhead or the like 32, at the front of the baling chamber. In the neighborhood of bulkhead 32, engine E is supported on the frame by connection with angle irons I! and I8.

The structure so far described comprises a unitary vehicle which can be readily trailed behind or partially supported on a tractor or other pullingmeans not shown, for example by means of a draw bar 33. i

The baling mechanism proper is carried on or associated with baling chamber orbody portion designated as 31 fixed on a shaft 38 driving through a reduction gear generally designated as 39, a crank 40 actuating a pitman 4| which drives a baling plunger 42 in a manner fully disclosed in the above mentioned pending application. Belt 36 as well as engaging pulley 35 also engages an idler pulley 43 fixed on a countershaft 44, the belt baler comprises a baling chamber made up in any by means of a, bracket or attaching means 20 being maintained in contact with idler 43 as by a belt tightening idler 45. Idler 45 is supported as by an arm 46 fixed on a shaft 41 carried in suitable bearings as 48, supported on a reinforcing plate 49 carried by angle irons I1 and I8. Shaft 41 has a lever 50 urged rearwardly bya spring 5| for rotating shaft 41 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the right side of 1 the machine. This yieldably presses idler 45 into contact with belt 36. When it is desired to tema 3 porarily disconnect the mechanism from engine E, lever 50 may be pulled forwardly which will lower idler 45 M loosen belt-56. A hook or other suitable fastening means 52 may be provided for holding lever 50 in this position.

Pitman 4| actuates a plunger generally designated as 42 including a head or end wall 53a which engages the material to be compressed. At the margin of wall 53c nearest to apron l0,

and drum II, a knife or cutting means 54a is suitably mounted on the plunger. Side plate 16 has an abutment or slice bar 5511,- and knife 54a which, in the rearward passage of plunger 42, passes somewhat to the rear of bar 55a so as to positively cut off the stream of material from feeding mechanism F.

Feeding mechanism F cooperates with pickup Band has a guard sheet 53 and a back sheet 54 for preventing passage of material across the feeder and over the back thereof, and also for preventing access of wind to material bein baled. Back sheet 54 may be inclined forwardly if desired.

2 bars 30 and 3| together with brackets 28 and 29 constitute a rectangular framework for carrying' a series of rolls forsupporting and actuating above mentioned apron III. This is seen in Fig. 2. 2' bar 30 supports a shaft 55 on which is mounted a roller 56', suitable bearings as 51, Fig. 3, of well-known type being carried by Z bars 30 and 3| and supporting shaft 55 as fully set forth in the above identified application. Similar bearings support a shaft 58 on which is mounted a roller 59. Above mentioned apron I is trained about rollers 56 and '59 and may be of any suitable or well-known type, in the present instance constituting a smooth, wide web of suitable material, such for example as rubber belt-' ing, although other suitable frictional material may be' substituted within the contemplation of the invention. Roller 56 may advantageously have a knurled or roughened periphery and may be driven by mechanism as will appear to cause movement of apron ID as indicated.

For maintaining the tension of apron Hi, the bearings 51 for shaft 58 are carried on suitable supports as 60, it being necessary to describe only the one'shown in Fig. 2 since it is typical. Support 50 hasa slot 6i engaged by a bolt or the like 62 carried by 2 bar 30 and bearing is slidable in a' slot 63 in Z bar 30', support 60' and bearin 51 being urged to the right by a bolt or the like 64 flaked with the support and extending through an car 65 to which it is clamped as by nuts 66-66. ny suitably adjusting nuts 66, shaft 58 and accordingly roller 59 may be moved in a direction to adjust the tension of apron it. Since an identical support is associated with Z bar 3|, roller 59 may be corrected in its relation to roller 55 to insure proper and accurate running of apron I0.

It will be apparent that material to be baled coming from pickup P, will be moved by apron l0 toward an opening 61 in plate Hi. It will also be apparent that at such times as the opening is closed by plunger 42, apron l0 may continue to run and slip beneath material momentarily blocked in its movement by the plunger.

The feeding of material is further effected by above mentioned feed drum II which is fixed on a shaft 58 and rotates in the direction indicated so that its periphery travels in the same direction as apron In in the region where the drum is next to the apron. Shaft 68 is carried in suitable bearings whiich are supported on 4 arms such as 89 fixed with a sleeve or the like ll journaled on a member ll carried by back sheet 30 and front sheet 3|, constituting part Of the feeder. Drum Il may accordingly rise and fall about member H as an axis so that it may rest or float on material being baled. Drum II is of substantial weight and acts to preliminarily compact and compress the material into a ribbon-like mass which is urged by the travel of apron llland dr'um II directly into opening 51. This is very effective in getting a large volume of material through the opening in a given time, the" volume of the' usual loose fiufiy material being reduced to a very small fraction of its original volume before passing through the opening. This is in contrast to the usual operation in which the material is still loose when it arrives at the feed opening and is stuffed down into the opening by a feeder head.

Drum I I as above noted, floats on the material and is free to rise and fall as the volume increases or decreases durin operation, the density of the preliminarily compressed material depending on the downward pressure of the drum which can be predetermined as desired.

The downward pressure of drum II is transmitted through the incoming material to apron i0 and, to assist apron ill in resisting this pressure, supporting rollers 12 and 13 are supported beneath apron In in the region of the' downward pressure of drum 26. Rollers l2 and 13 may be mounted on shafts I4 and 15 carried in bearing of any suitable or well-known type as above mentioned bearing5l.

Assuming drum H and apron It to be traveling as above noted in the directions indicated, a continuous stream of material will be preliminarily compressed and conveyed into bale chamber B throughvopening 61 as suggested in Fig. 2. Momentarily and periodically however, plunger 42 comes rearwardly towardthe observer in Fig. 2 and blocks opening 61. Apron I0 and drum ll. however, continue to rotate and material continues to be urged through the compressing space between drum II and apron l0 and to pile up-in amass against plunger 42. A substantial volume of such material is momentarily compressed into a storage space to the left of drum ii and apron i0 and to pile up in a mass against plunger 42. A substantial volume of such material is momentarily compressed into a storage space to the left of the drum II as seen in Fig. 2 and between it and plunger 42 during this brief interval. Drum 26 carries cleats I6''|6 on its periphery for increasing its traction and minimizing slipping on the material being baled and ifmaterial is unable to move into baling' chamber B, the cleats may exert a lifting effect on the material so as to raise the body forming between the drum H and plunger 42 to completely fill the substantially triangular space resulting between said drum and said plunger. If no room for further material is present, additionalmaterial forced in may tend to lift drum 26 to give more space between the drum and plunger, this action depending upon whether a suflicient volume of material is coming from pickup P. As is apparent,- cleats |6'I6 are comparatively low and give drum ljl what might be termed a slightly roughened periphery. It will be apparent that a relatively dense mass of material (which is usually fairly resilient) is built up against plunger 42 in anticipation of the clearing of openingtl. Accordingly,- almost instantaneously upon the withdrawal of plunger 42, this body or slug of material passes through opening 8! into balechamber Baaszfully set forth in the above identifiedpending application. This body enter bale chamber Bat all times.

As above suggested, drum II may swing up and down about member 'I I'. Drum is rotated through above mentioned shaft 68 by means of a sprocket 11. Accordingly, it is convenient for the drive to sprocket TI to originate on the center line of member 'II. In the present instance, member II comprises a journal or pilot I8. A hub portion 19 fixed on a shaft 80 disposed lengthwise of the bale chamber. is journaled on above mentioned pilot I8 and has a sprocket or the equivalent 8I engaging chain 82 for driving above mentioned sprocket 11, the hub portion also having a sprocket 83 engaging a chain 84 constituting a drive for apron I0. As seen in Fig. 3,

chain 84 extends downwardly from sprocket 83 to an idler sprocket 8'5 rotatably supported on a shaft 88 below Z bar 3|, the chain on its upward run engaging a sprocket 81 fixed with "above mentioned shaft '55; Shaft '55 carrying roller 56, as above noted, causes rotation of roller 56 in the proper direction to drive apron I0.

A modified construction for driving apron I0 from the end remote from baling chamber B is indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. By this expedient the apron may be advanced for closely to opening 61 and in fact may project into the opening slightly thus resulting in more efficient feeding of material. Under these conditions, an idler roller 88 which may be substantially smaller in diameter than above mentioned roller 56 is mounted on a shaft 89 carried in suitable bearings such as 5'! above described. Roller 88, however, because of its smaller size may be placed to extend somewhat into the feed opening as shown, it being so placed that only the minimum safe clearance exists between feed apron 80 and plunger 42. Under these conditions, it may be advisable to drive through one of the larger rollers and accordingly as shown in Fig. 4, a shaft 9| corresponding in position to above mentioned shaft I4 has a sprocket 92 fixed thereon similar to above mentioned sprocket 81, a chain 93 engaged with sprocket 94, corresponding to above mentioned sprocket 83, engaging sprocket 92 and idler sprockets'85 and 96, suitably supported beneath sprocket 02. a

In this manner, rotation of sprocket 92 in a direction opposite to sprocket 94 is obtained in addition to accommodating the relatively offset position of sprocket '92. Shaft 9| leads entirely through the feeder as shownin Fig. 5 and carries a sprocket 9 driving, through a chain 98, a sprocket 99 fixed with a shaft I00 on which is mounted a roller IOI corresponding in position to above mentioned roller 59. Roller I 0 I may be knurled or otherwise roughened for more positive engagement with apron 90. Shaft 9| has a roller I02 corresponding in position to above mentioned roller 12. "Although roller I02 does not have enough surface in contact with apron 90 to thereon. I

7 drive the latter, sprockets 92 and =Bland-rollers spring I01 being supported from or by aZ bar I08 corresponding to'above mentioned Z bar 30.. Above mentioned shaft 80, asseen in Fig. 1,. extends through a bearing I09 supported by balechamber B and carries a sprocket or the like I I0,. a safety release clutch I I I'0f well-known or suitable type being interposed, if desired. A chain II2 engages sprocket H0 and a sprocket H3 mounted on a shaft II4 journaled in a housing I I 5 and carrying a bevel gear I I 6 meshing with a bevel gear I I! on above mentioned shaft 44, shaft 44 as above indicated carrying idler 43 which is driven by belt 36. Accordingly, actuation of belt 36 by engine E causes driving of shaft 80, drum II and apron I0.

Angle irons I7 and I8 terminate in or are fastened to a platform I I8 which serves as part of the main body of the machine and as a support for engine E. Platform H8, in the present instance, is supported by aground engaging wheel II9 having an axle I20, and supporting the platform through a fork or similar member I2 I. Fork I2I preferably has ashank or king pin I22 journaled in suitable or well-known manner in platform I I8, and above mentioned drawbar 33 is bifurcated or otherwise suitably arranged to be pivotally connected as at I23with fork I2I.

The above being a complete description of an illlustrative embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured b Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a feeding device for a pickup baler having a longitudinally disposed baling chamber providing a feed opening in one side thereof and a pickup drum rotatable on an axis transverse to the length of said baling chamber the combination of a smooth, endless, friction surfaced apron leading transversely of said baling chamber toward said feed opening substantially" normal to the plane thereof and disposed to receive material moving backwardly from said pickup drum, to change its direction and impel it crosswise of said direction toward said opening, supporting means pivoted adjacent to an upper edge of said baling chamber and extending-outwardly therefrom, a drum element positioned above said apron and carried by said supporting means outwardly of the pivotal support of said supporting means, as related to said baling chamber for preliminarily compressing material carried by said apron between itself and said apron so as to tend to climb on said material when rotated,and means for rotating said drum element for urging material toward said feed opening concurrently with said apron, said drum element being supported above said apron so as to float on material traveling 2. In a feeing devicefor a pickup baler havinga longitudinally disposed baling chamber providing a feed opening in one side thereof subject to being periodically blocked, and a pickup drum rotatable on an axis transverse to the length of said baling m r; t mb na ion q smeo h ndl 7 friction surfaced apron leading transversel of said baling chamber toward said feed opening substantially to the plane thereof and disposed to receive material moving backwardly from said pickup drum, to change its direction and impel it crosswise of said direction toward said opening, supporting means pivoted adjacent to an upper edge of said baling chamber and extending outwardly therefrom, a drum element positioned above said apron and carried by said supporting means outwarly of the pivotal support of said supporting means, as related to said baling chamber for preliminarily compressing material carried by .said apron between itself and said apron so as :to tend to climb on said material when rotated, and means for rotating said drum element for urging material toward said feed opening concurrently with said apron, said drum element ;being supported above said apron so as to float on material traveling thereon, and having a plu- ;rality of low cleats providing a slightly roughrened surface engaging material to be impelled on said apron.

3. In a feeding device for a pickup baler having .-a longitudinally disposed baling chamber providing a feed opening in one side thereof subject to being periodically blocked, and a pickup drum rotatable on an axis transverse to the length of said baling chamber; the combination of an endless apron leading transversely of said baling chamber toward said feed opening substantially normal to the plane thereof and disposed to receive material moving backwardly from said pickup drum, to change its direction and impel it crosswise of said direction toward said opening, ,-supporting means pivoted adjacent to an upper :edge of said baling chamber and extending out- =wardly therefrom, a drum element positioned .above said apron and carried by said supporting :means outwardly of the pivotal support of said supporting means, as related to said baling chamber for preliminarily compressing material carried by said apron between itself and said apron so as to tend to climb on said material when rotated, said drum element being outwardly spaced from said baling chamberto provide a storage chamber for material during momentary blocking of said feed opening, and means for rotating said drum element for urging material toward said feed opening concurrently with said apron, said drum element being supported above said apron so as to float on material traveling thereon.

4. In a feeding device for a pickup baler having a longitudinally disposed baling chamber providing a feed opening in one side thereof and a pickup drum rotatable on an axis transverse to the length of said baling chamber; the combination of an endless apron leading transversely of said baling chamber toward said feed opening substantially normal to the plane thereof and disposed to receive material moving backwardly from said pickup drum, to change its direction and impel it crosswise of said direction toward saidopening, supporting means pivoted adjacent to an upper edge of said baling chamber and extending outwardly therefrom, a 'drum element positioned above said apron and carried by said supporting means 'out'wardly'of the pivotal support 'of said supporting means, as related to said baling chamber for preliminarily compressing material carried by said apron between itself and said apron so as to tend to climb on said material when roted, and means for rotating said drum element for urging material toward said feed opening concurrently with said apron, said drum element being supported above said apron so as to float on material traveling thereon.

5. In a feeding device for a pickup baler having a longitudinally disposed baling chamber providing a feed opening in one side thereof and a pickup drum rotatable on an axis transverse to the length of said baling chamber; the combination of an endless, friction surfaced apron leading transversely of said baling chamber toward said feed opening substantially normal to the plane thereof and disposed to receive material moving backwardly from said pickup drum, to change its direction and impel it crosswise of said direction toward said opening, supporting means pivoted adjacent to an upper edge of said baling chamber and extending outwardly therefrom, a drum element positioned above said apron and carried by said supporting means outwardly of the pivotal support of said supporting means, as related to said baling chamber for preliminarily compressin'g material carried by said apron between itself and said apron so as to tend to climb on said material when rotated, and means for rotating said drum element for urging material toward said feed opening concurrently with said apron.

'6. Ina feeding device for a pickup baler having a longitudinally disposed baling chamber providing a feed opening in one side thereof and a pickup drum rotatable on an axis transverse to the length of said baling chamber; the combination of an endless, friction surfaced apron leading transversely of said baling chamber toward said feed opening substantially normal to the plane thereof and disposed to receive material moving backwardly from said pickup drum, to change its direction and impel it crosswise of said direction toward said opening, supporting means pivoted adjacent to an upper edge of said baling chamber and extending outwardly therefrom, a drum element positioned above said apron and carried by said supporting means outwardly of the pivotal support of said supporting means, as related to said baling chamber for preliminarily compressing material carried by said apron between itself and said apron so as to tend to climb on said material when rotated, and means for rotating said drum element for urging material toward said feed opening concurrently with said apron, said drum element being supported above said apron so as to float on material traveling thereon, and having a plurality of low cleats providing a slightly roughened surface engaging material to 'be impelled on said apron.

STANLEY D. RUSSELL.

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